News | Population Matters

11,000 scientists call for population action to prevent catastrophic climate impacts

8 November 2019

The Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency, signed by more than 11,000 scientists from around the world, warns of “untold human suffering” unless governments take urgent action to tackle the climate crisis, including ending and reversing population growth.

Climate Environment World population

Cracking knuckles and counting kids

4 November 2019

Population Matters’ Campaigns and Projects Officer, Florence Blondel, reflects on her family life in Uganda, and what it tells us about population growth in her home country, and across much of Africa. She also identifies some positive changes coming.

Africa population Development Families Family planning Women's rights

Organic agriculture could increase climate emissions without changes in population and diet

25 October 2019

A new study shows that converting all farmland in England and Wales to organic agriculture could increase greenhouse gas emissions because meeting the food demands of the UK population would require using more land abroad.

Climate Environment Food & water UK population

Scientists call for improving contraceptive use to fight climate change

16 October 2019

A new commentary article published in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health urges wide-scale adoption of policies that increase the use of modern contraception as part of global efforts to reduce climate emissions.

Climate Environment Family planning World population

High population density hurts child health, study finds

8 October 2019

A continent-wide analysis of how different development factors affect the health of children in Africa found that child health is worst in countries with high population densities.

Africa population Environment Family planning

UK biodiversity report: more of us, less of them

4 October 2019

The latest edition of the most authoritative report on biodiversity in the UK has just been released - State of Nature 2019. The 2016 version described the UK as "one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world". This new edition makes clear there has been no improvement - and shows some of the impacts of human population growth.

Biodiversity Environment UK population

Four out of five women live in countries rated ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ for gender equality

1 October 2019

A major new report on the state of gender equality in 129 countries reveals that women and girls continue to be discriminated against across the globe, with four out of five women living in the lowest scoring countries.

Development Women's rights

UN Climate Action Summit fails to deliver climate action

Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough at UN Climate Action Summit

24 September 2019

The UN’s Climate Action Summit in New York City wrapped up yesterday, leaving many environmentalists feeling deeply disappointed. Despite pressure from youth activists led by 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, a record-breaking attendance at last Friday’s global Climate Strike, and a call to action from Sir David Attenborough, world leaders yet again failed to make meaningful commitments.

Climate Environment World population

Wildlife conservation is incompatible with human population growth

20 September 2019

A major analysis found that while wildlife can benefit from sustainable development and economic growth, continued human population growth is incompatible with conservation goals.

Biodiversity Development Environment World population

The World and the UN Must Reduce Population Growth

12 September 2019

The United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals imply that there is no longer any need to reduce global population growth, even though it is a serious problem that undermines most of the SDG targets. By adding a further SDG aimed at slowing the increase in population, the world could yet save the UN’s 2030 Agenda.

Development World population

The most powerful action to save the planet is the most neglected one

3 September 2019

As well as being morally essential, achieving global gender equality would make an unparalleled contribution to improving lives, reducing emissions and halting the destruction of nature. So why does women's empowerment remain a chronically underfunded and overlooked solution?

Environment Family planning Women's rights World population

UK population bigger and greyer

23 August 2019

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, show that the UK's population is 66.4 million people, and that the proportion of people past retirement age continues to grow. Do these changes in the UK matter?

Economics Environment UK population

US loses ‘football field’ worth of nature every 30 seconds

7 August 2019

A new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) reveals that more than 24 million acres of nature have been lost from the contiguous United States between 2001 and 2017 due to human development; the equivalent of one football field every 30 seconds.

Biodiversity Environment US population

A limit on royal babies? Prince Harry thinks small families are best, public agrees

1 August 2019

Prince Harry’s recent comments on choosing a small family for the sake of the planet caused a welcome swell in media coverage of population issues. According to a survey, the majority of Brits agree with the Duke of Sussex that it is necessary to limit one’s family size for the environment, while newly released data on UK births confirms an ongoing trend towards smaller families.

Environment Families Family planning World population UK population

Despite economic growth, billions won’t have enough fruit and veg by 2050

24 July 2019

A new Lancet study analysing the gap between future fruit and vegetable supply and recommended consumption levels found that even under the most optimistic socioeconomic growth scenarios, there won’t be enough to go around by mid-century.

Development Economics Environment Food & water World population

Going global on World Population Day

17 July 2019

This World Population Day, 11 July 2019, Population Matters went global by running events in three continents. Thanks to our supporters and allies, we had a very successful day in Lagos, Nigeria, London, UK and New York, USA, raising awareness of population issues and pushing them up the international agenda.

Biodiversity Environment Family planning Women's rights World population

Sustainable development needs sustainable population

9 July 2019

On World Population Day 2019, Population Matters is bringing that critical message to London, New York and Lagos

Biodiversity Development Environment Family planning World population

Human population density main driver of nature loss in Africa

4 July 2019

A new study reveals that rapid human population growth is the biggest driver of environmental degradation in African countries, highlighting the urgent need for greater investment in family planning as a pathway to achieving biodiversity and sustainable development targets.

Africa population Biodiversity Development Economics Environment Family planning Women's rights

Mission Earth, not Mars

28 June 2019

Population Matters Director Robin Maynard challenges Elon Musk's claim that we should be worried about population decline, not too many people.

Environment Families World population

Condoms cut carbon - Population Matters at the Mass Climate Lobby

27 June 2019

Decked in giant condom robes, Population Matters and supporters attended the mass lobby for climate and the environment in London yesterday, highlighting the urgent need for smaller families.

Climate Environment Families Family planning UK population Women's rights World population